Clinical Application and Surgical Results of Hollow Cage(RABEA(TM)) without Bone Graft in the One-Segment Cervical Spinal Interbody Fusion.

Yoon, Chang Sik; Yoon, Seung Hwan; Park, Hyoung Chun; Park, Hyeon Seon; Kim, Se Hyuk; Kim, Eun Young

Original Article

Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society 2003;34(1): 17-22.

Chang Sik Yoon, Seung Hwan Yoon, Hyoung Chun Park, Hyeon Seon Park, Se Hyuk Kim, Eun Young Kim

Department of Neurosurgery, Inha University College of Medicine, Incheon, Korea. nsysh@inha.ac.kr

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE
The authors report a result of application of cervical hollow cage(RABEA(TM)) without bone graft to the patients of one-level cervical spondylosis or acute cervical disc herniation to fill and stabilize a vacant space following anterior decompression. METHODS: Twenty-one patients from May 1999 to April 2001 had been taken procedure with cervical hollow cage system following anterior decompression and there had been no additional bone graft or screw fixation or fusion. Pain relief and clinical outcome were evaluated, and the intervertebral disc height and segmental angle for radiological assessment were examined. All patient were followed up for 12 months at least.
RESULTS
The result was excellent in 14 cases(66.7%), good in 6 cases(28.6%) and poor in 1 case(4.8%). In the lateral projection, the mean of preoperative disc height and segmental angle were significantly improved after surgery and maintained during follow-up periods. No abnormal displacement were recorded at dynamic flexion and extension lateral X-ray and no cage rotation or retropulsion was noted in follow-up periods. Three patients(14.3%) was observed to subside of disc height on the postoperative periods and only one of their patients was dissatisfied with surgery.
CONCLUSION
Cervical hollow cage is simple to perform and reduces the operation time. Besides clinical improvement, it improves mechanical stability and radiological profile as the physiologic level. The cervical hollow cage might be an alternative to traditional cervical interbody fusion with bone graft.

Key Words: Cervical hollow cage; RABEA(TM); Mechanical stability; Cervical interbody fusion